Big Shot

When Chen Miemie, in the form of the King in Yellow, saw the owner of the Four Seasons Tea Shop, the middle-aged man also spotted him.

The owner froze for a moment.

Then he stopped what he was doing, silently turned around, and walked back to his tea-mixing counter.

Chen Miemie observed the street that looked both familiar and strange, feeling an odd sense of unreality as he moved slowly forward.

Just as he passed the outdoor tables and chairs outside the tea shop,

the owner came out carrying a tea tray.

On the tray was a freshly poured cup of tea.

He walked up to Chen Miemie, set the tea tray down on a nearby table, and said,

"Spring buds as sprouts, summer heat gently toasted, autumn withered leaves curled, winter snow steamed into tea—this is Four Seasons Tea. Please enjoy." Having said that, he turned and went back inside.

Chen Miemie: ...

Wait, did I even order? He just brought me tea like it's nothing. Talk about being a natural-born salesman.

He took a sip. Even though his body was currently made of light particles, he could still feel the tea's warmth as it slid down smoothly, leaving a long, lingering aftertaste.

"Good tea."

Setting down the cup, Chen Miemie didn't linger any longer. He went straight back to his own shop.

The tea shop owner watched him leave without calling out, showing no intention of asking for payment.

Chen Miemie quickly returned to his store.

The moment he pushed the door open, he was met with several anxious faces.

All the anomalies were crowded near the entrance.

"Chen Miemie, you're back!" Bobo shouted.

"Yeah, I'm back. How long was I gone?"

Pure Water gave the exact time: "6 minutes and 58 seconds."

"Pretty consistent time-wise. What did you guys see from your side?"

"The moment you stepped out the door, you merged into the moonlight and disappeared. Where did you go?"

"I didn't want to go too far since I was worried about what might happen here. I ended up on what used to be Fairy Tale Road—probably five years ago, the time that customer named Cuckoo came from."

"I've never heard of a way to go back in time," said Pure Water.

"Right, this is beyond incredible," added the Forbidden Fruit Codex, equally stunned.

Qinghua ran her hands over Chen Miemie's yellow robe, as if checking to see if he was okay.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. I don't feel any discomfort either."

"It looks like we can't be taken back in time with you," Loop concluded, reaching the same understanding as Chen Miemie.

"Probably. This kind of thing isn't just about knowing the method; you also need to be special enough yourself," said the Forbidden Fruit Codex, offering some insight.

"I came back to let you know I'm safe. I'm going to look around a bit more."

"Alright, we'll wait for you at home."

The King in Yellow stepped out again.

Unfortunately, this time, he couldn't return to five years ago.

"Looks like following a customer back to their timeline is a one-time chance."

And so, Chen Miemie went back to the shop.

Even though that trip had led to nothing in particular, it was still a historic moment.

Everyone began analyzing the pattern.

Loop summarized: "First, it has to be at the start of the Eternal Moon Night, with the King in Yellow watching the shop and a customer from another era coming in. Second, the King in Yellow follows the customer outside, and that's how the time jump happens."

Qinghua added: "The limitation is that you can only go once, and there's probably a time limit too. Miemie said over there was also during the Eternal Moon Night, so I'm guessing the stay can't last beyond that night."

"Restrictions are expected. The fact that we could go at all is already a miracle."

"Alright, let's drop this for now. I'm not going to recklessly time-hop on a whim. Time isn't something you mess with. After several conversations, it's time we deal with the issues from our earlier customers. Starting tomorrow, we'll take action."

And just like that, another night passed in the midst of the oddities' chatter.

The next day, after waking up, Chen Miemie casually stepped out.

Number 1 Fairy Tale Road was already closed, and even the sign for the Fairy Tale Road House Acquisition Management Office had been removed.

Old Man Yu had pulled up a stool and sat at the entrance, legs crossed, his foot steadily bouncing—clearly in a great mood.

"Chen Miemie, I've got good news for you: we're not being demolished after all."

"Oh, I know. Don't mention it."

"Don't mention it? Why should I thank you?"

"I asked Lady Chenpi for a favor. Why wouldn't you thank me?"

Old Man Yu looked utterly baffled: "You? You know Lady Chenpi?"

"Not really, but I can reason with people. I talked some sense into her yesterday, and she was convinced."

"Hmph. Tell that to the ghosts. Everyone knows Lady Chenpi is the least reasonable person alive."

Chen Miemie grew interested at this.

"Old Man Yu, what exactly is the deal with Lady Chenpi? Even Zhiliao couldn't solve that demolition issue, and she wrapped it up in one day. She must have some serious influence."

"Chen Miemie, let me give you genuine advice: show some respect to Lady Chenpi. Use her title properly."

"Come on, don't be so stiff. You don't even show an archmage that much respect in private."

"Ridiculous. An archmage? Old Man Yu couldn't help but laugh. "An archmage can't even be compared to Lady Chenpi."

"Can you stop beating around the bush? Just tell me what makes Lady Chenpi so powerful."

"How would I know? I'm just an old shopkeeper. But I do know she holds three powers."

"Three what?"

Old Man Yu counted on his fingers, starting with the first one.

"First, she has veto power. She can directly reject decisions, even those proposed by archmages."

Then he raised a second finger.

"Second, she has the authority to decide the election and dismissal of the six archmages."

Chen Miemie's antenna shot straight up. He thought he'd misheard:

"Wait, what? So the highest leadership in this city needs her approval to take office, and she can also kick an already-serving archmage out?!"

"Right on the money."

"You've got to be kidding me. Those are impossible powers for any human! There's no logic to that kind of authority. Is there anything bigger than this?"

"Yes, there is." Old Man Yu held up a third finger. "Her third power: she has the right to keep adding new powers to her list, with no limits."

"Old Man Yu, are you pulling my leg?"

"No. Ask anyone on the street. Everyone knows this."

"Hmph, keep talking. She's just a kid who couldn't even get a research assistant for her projects. By your logic, she might as well be the city's ruler."

Old Man Yu nodded: "She is the city's ruler."

"Old Man Yu, cut the act. Everyone knows the Sealed Library has no ruler."

"That's right—the Sealed Library doesn't."

"Then what—"

"But the Grand Library does. Lady Chenpi has been governing this city for over 3,700 years. Before she created the archmage management system, she was this city's ruler."